Nifty News

Faithful Followers

Saturday, February 21, 2009

I drove up here to Madison yesterday and beat the snow. Of course, I drove off without my suitcase and had to turn around, go home and get it when Savannah texted me that I'd left it there. Who was it who was just complaining about getting texts from her family every time she left? Surely it wasn't me. Unfortunately I forgot to pack pants. PANTS! Not toothpaste or shampoo. Not socks. Not jewelry. Stinkin' pants! Who forgets to pack pants??? That's right - me! Then I managed to lock myself out of my room, not once, but twice today. I met a very funny writer, Rachael Phillips, in Sonoma this past October. She taught a class on humor writing. One of the things she said you needed to do in order to write humor is "do stupid things". Yep, I think I've got that one covered.

I spoke to a handful of people at the expo today and once again, didn't throw up so that's always good. It snowed here (and I guess in Chicago too) most of the day so I decided to spend one more night here. You know, because I have a rear-wheel drive van and it's horrible on slippery surfaces. The fact that this hotel has social hour with complimentary beer and wine has nothing to do with my decision. I gotta hand it to Joe - he's a good dad and has no problem holding down the fort while I'm away, so I thankfully don't have to try to drive home in this yuckness. (It's a word. Trust me, I'm a writer.)

Random: as an aspiring writer who wishes to some day bring home the bacon in the form of published novels, seeing my name (almost) as a published author made my brain tweak for a second o.O (Raechel Phillips here)

The hotel room you are in looks much better than the last one! Shame you'll have to be naked the whole time =P

Well, at least you forgot your pants. I took several suits to New York City a couple of years ago when I was giving a presentation at a conference. Discovered a few hours before my grand appearance that none of them fit -- as in I couldn't zip up the skirts.

Oh c'mon, the giant snow we were supposed to get? Totally missed us. Enjoy that social hour though!

And ummm nice going on the pants. I always forget ONE thing when I travel - and frequently it's pjs (no idea why) and once I packed two different shoes - but fortunately I haven't missed an outfit before. At least you didn't get too far without your whole suitcase!

Hopefully you found some more pants before you got locked out...twice! Dontcha hate it when that happens? Why can't I stay in a hotel with free booze?? LOLPs thanks for the compliment on the castle cake on FB :)

I thought this fall it was ironic that you'd met a writer named Rachael Phillips because I went to college with a woman by that name. After clicking on the link you gave in this post I found out you met the Rachael I went to school with! We were both English majors and had several classes together. How crazy!

I have 2 boys under the age of 2 (yes, I have heard of contraception!). I have a full time job, although I work part of some of my days at home. In addition I am doing a post grad part time, and last week Thursday, I thought I had to go for a brainscan because of my forgetfulness:

Thursday morning, want to use my car, but I left the lights on the previous day (!!! and it's summer in South Africa, why was it on in the 1st place?), so no power. I used my husbands car to do a quick trip to the grocery store, before I had to go to lectures at the uni. I got home, realised I was running late, and grabbed my stuff, only to get to the car and find that I had left the keys inside. Luckily I had left the window a little open, so I could fish it out with some wire. When I finished my lectures later the evening I realised I do not have my car keys, and where would I find them? In the ignition (again!!!!) with no open window. Luckily the AA could help me get it back, my membership unfortunately does not include a brain replacement.

My former youth minister went on a trip to speak somewhere. As he was driving on the high way he notices something flys out the behind his car. It's his pants! Apparently he hadn't shut the trunk all the way, so it opened while driving. He had them dry cleaned and they were in a plastic bag on top of his suit case in the trunk. So, once he got to his destination, he went to Wal-mart at 2 am to buy pants for the next day. Thost pants are important you know.

3. The no pants story reminded me of the time I left Virginia to travel back to Long Island after my sister had her first baby. I bought so many gifts and outfits, wrapped them meticulously, packed them in the car the night before. Left right after work and during my NJ potty stop, realized I left my own suitcase home...no pants, no undies, no nothing! It was a loooong week! :-)

My husband went on a business trip to England last year and guess what he forgot...Pants! He had to wear jeans to a meeting the next day until a colleague could take him to a store. And I have to say those were the crummiest "dress" pants I've ever seen.

You came to my town!! And I was at the baby expo on Sat. and didn't see you!! But I did see your flier on the front table- I thought, wow I read her blog, thats cool. But if I could have seen you I don't think I would have known what to do. You must come back, it's much nicer when its not snowing.